The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-21
BILL 2o3.
Speaker Sayre Defends His Action and Says
That He Conceded Nothing.

That He Conceded Nothing.
To the Editor of the indianapolis News:
My attention has just been called to an editor
ial in your paper Of the 18th inst, based on
Sentinel editorial, in relation to the signing of
Senate Bill 203 It is misleading in that the
Sentinel article lacks the very essential element
of truth The lie is in these words 'sThen, with
the consent of the Speaker. it was taken to Pres,
ident Smith Of the Senate The fact is, the Dill
came to the House Feb. 81, before the deadloc
was established The House finally acted upon
every Senate bill that was in the House. 2o3;
however, having been accidentally overlooked
until the night of the last day Representative
Gordon, at the time named, called up bill 203.
and by persistent effort secured the passage OF
the bill. l expect Gordon would say thai
helped him some in his effort In a few minutes
after it's passage Senator Bailey cames9 me with
the bill enrolled, telling me that he had done It
under the direction and authority OF W.. h.
Smith, Principal Clerk of the House, and asked
me to sign it. declined to do 80. because, as l
for his signature. He assured me. upon his
honor as a man. that he would not but would
take it, with my signature alone. to the GOV,
ernor. Upon that promise from Bailey signed
it, just as I had signed every Senate bill that
passed the House after the deadlock
/ was then and am now thoroughly committed
to the deadlock. l have done nothing and
never will, to break 1t or prevent its contlnu-
ance. and should the General Assembly be kept
in continuous session until the next general cleo
ton, 1 would never yield, except on the one
condition, that Lieutenant-go governor Robertson
shall preside in the Senate.
Your comment as to signing the appropriation
bill is not pertinent, as the appropriation bill
was not passed by both houses and never was
in condition to sign. But had it any other
bill been in the condition 2O3 was, it. too. would
have been signed. Two hundred and three was
exactly in the condition of the nineteen bills
that signed and sent to the Governor on Fri
day before adjournment
After the deadlock was established there was
no official communication between the two
houses, and, in my opinion. never will be- until
Robertson is permitted to preside in the Senate
for have neither seen nor heard of Repuo-
lcan in the State that does not approve our
course
Don't forget that every bill that was entitled
| to be enrolled was enrolled and signed by me.
| No other bill could have been signed for none
! were in condition to be signed.
| If the Sentinel speaks from information. then
| the informer. who must have been Bailey, lies.
| But if Bailey told the Sentinel the truth about
| the matter. then the Sentinel lies.
Enrolled bills that passed the Senate after the
deadlock especially one championed by Jewett,
| another by Harrell, were presented to me by
| them for signature I refused to sign them, and
| no act of my life caused me more mental pain,
| for the bills were good. and their authors were
gentlemen and my personal friends. John LincE
| had a bill, too, in that condition, one of very
! material concern to his own city He only
wanted me to sign his, if I should sign others,
| but none ever suggested breaking the deadlock
The difference, you will notice, was this: Two
hundred and three, and bills like it, required nc
communication between the two houses. The
other bills named did, and because they did they
| were not signed.
A thing was accomplished by 203 that may
| serve precedent in another point.
There has been widespread belief that Sat
| urday preceding adjournment is the last day tt
pass bills, but here the Governor received ani
signed a bill that was not passed until thirty
minutes before adjournment on Monday. There
| is constitutional provision tho subject bu
that will make no difference, as never heard Of
| our present very worthy and excellent Governor
| paying any attention to the Constitution, excep
| in political speeches
hope you will make the correction as to facts
| Your conclusions and mine upon the deadiocl
will remain opposed. I will not ask you TO pub
lsh this letter. but will ask you to edit the par
you may use. if any, for l have been hurried!tot
much to be nice in manner, although am truth
full in matter. Very respectfully,
| WABASH, March II. WARREN G. SAYRE.